Police say messages to the website are confidential

The "Shop Thy Neighbour" web page was launched by Cambridgeshire Constabulary on Thursday.

The website is for people to report anyone they believe is involved in burglary, drug crime, car crime and street robbery in the county.

The site is being run in conjunction with a telephone hotline which was set up two weeks ago.

The web page allows people to e-mail officers in confidence if they suspect someone of committing a crime.

People shouldn't have to put up with a drug dealing neighbour or live in fear of burglars Superintendent Paul Phillipson

Superintendent Paul Phillipson said: "I am hoping that adding the ability for people to contact us through the website will encourage those people who do not feel comfortable in speaking to someone directly to come forward with information on their neighbours or people within their community who they know are actively involved in crime.

"Certain areas of the county are not particularly nice areas to live in because people in the neighbourhood are making life very unpleasant.

"People shouldn't have to put up with a drug-dealing neighbour or live in fear of burglars."

A link from the force's home page takes residents to the relevent page.

From there people can gain easy access to a form which can be filled in to report criminal activity or people they know are actively involved in crime.